The Cooper School is a secondary school in Bicester, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
The Cooper School currently has around 1228 pupils on roll, which is about 92% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 50.4% boys and 49.6% girls. Around 12.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 8.4%. Persistent absence is recorded at 22.4%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (72%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 96% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (90%) , including 50% who stay in school sixth forms and 38% progressing to further education , while 3% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Churchill Road, Bicester, OX26 4RS |
| Website: | www.thecooperschool.co.uk |
| Telephone: | 01869242121 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Oxfordshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Dr Robert Whannel |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 141069 |
Ofsted inspection date: 25/02/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1333 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1228 |
| Number of Boys: | 619 |
| Number of Girls: | 609 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 8.4% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 22.4% | 8.2% |
| White British | 72.00% | 884 |
| Other White | 9.90% | 122 |
| Chinese | 2.80% | 34 |
| Other Mixed | 2.50% | 31 |
| African | 2.00% | 25 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 2.00% | 24 |
| Other Asian | 1.60% | 20 |
| Indian | 1.50% | 18 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 1.20% | 15 |
| White and Asian | 1.00% | 12 |
| Unclassified | 1.00% | 12 |
| White and Black African | 0.90% | 11 |
| Other Black | 0.50% | 6 |
| Pakistani | 0.40% | 5 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.30% | 4 |
| Irish | 0.20% | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.20% | 2 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glory Farm Nursery School Churchill Road , OX26 4YJ | - not rated | 300 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Longfields Nursery School Longfields , OX26 6QL | - not rated | 852 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glory Farm Primary School Hendon Place , Sunderland Drive OX26 4YJ | 3out of 4 | 300 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Glory Farm Primary School Hendon Place , Sunderland Drive OX26 4YJ | - not rated | 300 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southwold County Primary School Holm Way , OX26 3UU | - not rated | 702 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Southwold Primary School Holm Way , OX26 3UU | 3out of 4 | 702 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Longfields Primary and Nursery School Longfields , OX26 6QL | 3out of 4 | 852 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cooper School Churchill Road , OX26 4RS | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Cooper School Churchill Road , OX26 4RS | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bicester Technology Studio Queens Avenue , OX26 2NS | - not rated | 1,484 yd | Studio schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Bicester School Queen's Avenue , OX26 2NS | 3out of 4 | 1,486 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bicester Community College Queen's Avenue , OX26 2NS | - not rated | 1,486 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardwell School Hendon Place , Sunderland Drive OX26 4RZ | - not rated | 355 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bardwell School Hendon Place , Sunderland Drive OX26 4RZ | 3out of 4 | 355 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bicester & Kidlington PRU Queens Street , South Cherwell Resources Centre OX26 2NR | - not rated | 1,477 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.